Iliriana Gjoni
@ilirianagjoni.bsky.social
Analyst @ Carnegie Europe | EU enlargement and Western Balkans | Concert Pianist @ world
Environmental protests in #Albania reflect the “growing internalisation” of EU standards and expectations, explains @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social (@carnegieeurope.bsky.social) newunionpost.eu/2026/06/08/a...
Protests in Albania reflect EU standards' internalisation
"Citizens are more confident in scrutinising those in power," says Carnegie Europe's Gjoni, on the Albanian environmental movement's calls to EU institutions
newunionpost.eu
Preparing candidate countries for EU membership is no longer enough. As the enlargement process becomes a reality, the union must also prepare its own societies, says @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social. carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
EU Enlargement Forgets European Citizens
Preparing candidate countries for EU membership is no longer enough. For the EU enlargement to succeed, the union must also prepare its own societies.
carnegieendowment.org
Montenegro & Albania are frontrunners for EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, but they can’t just sit back and wait. To meet their 2030 accession ambitions, they must make a strong positive case, argue @dimitarbechev.bsky.social & @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social. carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
How to Join the EU in Three Easy Steps
Montenegro and Albania are frontrunners for EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, but they can’t just sit back and wait. To meet their 2030 accession ambitions, they must make a strong positive case.
carnegieendowment.org
We are delighted to welcome Catherine Fieschi (@cfieschi.bsky.social) to Carnegie Europe as a nonresident scholar. A leading expert on European politics, Catherine will analyze the rise of populist and authoritarian movements in advanced democracies. We will be sharing more of her work soon.
European defence plans must not overlook the Western Balkans' role. "Geography is one of the strongest arguments", say Bojana Zorić (@euiss.bsky.social) and @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social (@carnegieeurope.bsky.social) #EuropeanDefence #militarymobility #WesternBalkans newunionpost.eu/2026/02/27/e...
European defence plans must not overlook the Western Balkans
According to Zorić (EUISS) and Gjoni (Carnegie), “geography is one of the strongest arguments” for including the region in the European defence architecture
newunionpost.eu
Europe’s rearmament cannot stop at its borders. The Western Balkans have a critical role in Europe’s defence readiness: from defence-industrial capacity to military mobility & regional resilience. 🔗 ow.ly/uEIV50Yh1Ph
EVENT | Can Europe Ever Trust the United States Again? 📢 On January 14, 2026, join @nathalietocci.bsky.social & @jantechau.bsky.social for a live debate launching our "Europe Head-to-Head" project, in which we unpack the most pressing questions facing the EU. 👉 carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/...
⚖️🌍 #Rules or #Deals? #Montenegro is at a constitutional crossroads - and the choice matters for the whole region. Read my new piece for @boell.de 👇 boell.de/en/2025/12/1... #EUenlargement #RuleOfLaw #Montenegro
Montenegro’s Choice Between Multiplying Deals or Setting Regional Standards | Heinrich Böll Stiftung
Montenegro stands at a crossroads: will it normalise exceptional, deal-driven investment practices, or set regional standards for transparent and rule-based development? The EU has a critical opportun...
boell.de
NEW | The UAE has become a major investor in the Western Balkans. With enlargement back on the agenda, the EU must ensure that foreign capital meets its governance standards, write @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social, Iva Čukić, Alba Çela, & Aleksandër Trajçe. carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
Rules or Deals? The EU’s Challenge in Regulating Corrosive Capital in the Western Balkans
The United Arab Emirates has become a major investor in the Western Balkans. With enlargement back on the agenda, the EU must ensure that foreign capital meets rather than undermines its governance st...
carnegieendowment.org
At the #EUEnlargementForum I stressed that debates on enlargement must reflect the whole region. #Kosovo remains outside formal candidate framing, yet its #cultural presence is unmistakably #European. 🙏 Thank you, #Telegrafi for capturing this. telegrafi.com/iliriana-xho...
Iliriana Gjoni i jep zë Forumit të Zgjerimit për rëndësinë e Kosovës në BE
Ilirana Gjoni, kërkuese dhe analiste në Carnegie Europe, njëherësh pianiste, ka moderuar panelin "Zgjerimi i BE-së nga perspektiva e qytetarëve", në kuadër të diskutimeve për zgjerimin e Bashkimit Evr...
telegrafi.com
North Macedonia has “no clear path forward” on EU accession. However, if Albania and Montenegro were to join the Union, "that might help to unlock the situation," says @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social, research analyst @carnegieeurope.bsky.social #NorthMacedonia newunionpost.eu/2025/11/18/n...
North Macedonia has "no clear path forward" on EU accession
A solution to North Macedonia's deadlock is not in sight. Albania-Montenegro's EU membership "might help to unlock the situation," says Carnegie Europe's Gjoni
newunionpost.eu
🔹 Spoke at #CarnegieEurope with Director General @GertJanEU, Rosa Balfour & Stefan Lehne on #EUEnlargement. 📘 2025 package shows real political will. ⚠️ Serbia’s backsliding finally named; Kosovo’s efforts underrated. 🌍 By 2030, MNE, AL, MD & IS could join. Link below. 🔗 youtu.be/2gKR8jdZ9Qg?...
🔹 The Western Balkans are no longer just recipients of security. Countries in the region are building defence industries, joining EU/NATO missions, and exploring paths into EU defence instruments — but reforms and deeper cooperation are still needed. Read Dimitar Bechev and me👇
Carnegie Europe@carnegieeurope.bsky.social · 9mo agoThe Western Balkans' defense industry can contribute to Europe's security. But first, governments must modernize their militaries, attract investment, & gradually integrate into the EU's initiatives, say @dimitarbechev.bsky.social & @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social. carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Looking forward to sharing the floor with 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐉𝐚𝐧 𝐊𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐚𝐧, Director-General for Neighbourhood & Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission, and my colleagues 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 and 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐡𝐧𝐞, Director and Senior Fellow at @carnegieeurope.bsky.social 🌍 Join us on #Nov6!
Carnegie Europe@carnegieeurope.bsky.social · 10mo ago🗓️ | Rethinking Integration to Accelerate EU Enlargement On November 6, join Stefan Lehne, @rosabalfour.bsky.social, @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social, & Gert Jan Koopman to discuss #EUEnlargement and the challenges & opportunities of gradual integration. Register 👉 carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/...
My latest piece on #Kosovo elections, with Donika Emini.
Carnegie Europe@carnegieeurope.bsky.social · 10mo agoKosovo's local elections face the challenge of integrating Serb politics, dominated by a Belgrade-backed party tied to violence. The vote will test Prishtina's sovereignty & the West's commitment to democratic standards, say Donika Emini & Iliriana Gjoni. carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
#interview #montenegrin #vijesti O tome kako se glas može čuti i kroz 🎼 klavir i kroz ✍️ analizu. O 🌍 Balkanu, 🇪🇺 Evropi, i tihoj snazi 🎭 kulture u politici. 🙏 Hvala Samiru Adroviću na pažljivim pitanjima i prostoru da spojim oba svijeta. www.vijesti.me/vijesti/kult...
Notama pokorila Brodvej, analizama Brisel
Iliriana Gjoni je vjerovatno jedina osoba koja s jednakom strašću i preciznošću svira Šopena pred hiljadama ljudi i analizira evropske politike u srcu Brisela. U ...
vijesti.me
My latest essay for #EuropeanVoices is out! A journey across music, visas & 🇪🇺 dreams — and what the #WesternBalkans might reveal about the future of #Europe. 👇 Read it here: Borders and Belonging www.linkedin.com/pulse/border... #EuropeanVoices #EUEnlargement #Identity #BalkansInEu
Borders and Belonging: A Balkan Trip Through European Identity
𝐴𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑡’𝑠 𝑗𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑦 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑀𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑜 𝑡𝑜 𝐵𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑠 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝐸𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒’𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑦 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑘𝑒𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑓𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒. 𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐆𝐉𝐎𝐍𝐈 The author is a research analyst focusing on EU enlargement and Western
linkedin.com
🌿 Honoured to receive a #VibekeSørensenGrant from the #EuropeanUniversityInstitute for a month-long research stay at the #HistoricalArchives of the #EU in Florence 🇮🇹 this autumn. A prestigious award supporting archival work on European integration. More soon! ✨ #EUI #EUarchives #Florence
🎻 The day after Tuz, we played in #Ulqin/#Ulcinj — my hometown — where music met memory. Among familiar faces, with #BledarZajmi & #SenadGačević beside me, we shared a night of cello, piano, and soul. A tradition continued, a spirit revived. 📸: Allmir Suka
🎶 On May 28 in Tuz 🇲🇪, I performed in concert with #BledarZajmi, solo cellist of #PragueOpera. By the River Cem, we played world, #Albanian & #Montenegrin works — including by #Gačević, who was with us in the audience. A night of beauty, belonging & #CulturalDiplomacy. #WesternBalkans #ClassicalMusic
Kosovo faces hurdles on its EU path. To move forward, Prishtina must revive its dialogue with Belgrade, write @dimitarbechev.bsky.social, @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social, Lukáš Macek, @milanninberlin.bsky.social, @nikoxw.bsky.social, and @wouterzweers.bsky.social. carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
Overcoming Inertia in Kosovo
Kosovo continues to face significant obstacles on its path to EU membership. To move forward, Prishtina must revive its dialogue with Belgrade, while the union should provide a clear road map for easi...
carnegieendowment.org
🎶 Honoured to open the #Carnegie Board meeting in Brussels with Debussy’s Clair de Lune—a quiet call for peace through nuance, not force.🌙 💬 Estonia’s FM @Tsahkna : To end the war, #Russia must face consistent pressure. 🌍 #CarnegieEndow - a global force for rules-based order.
As #Montenegro debates a #UAE deal today, the #EU faces a test. Will it offer more than silence as others reshape its neighbourhood? #Ulcinj/#Ulqin could be a pilot for real EU engagement, before accession. “Displacement can arrive in the shape of a beachfront villa.” More in my #CarnegieEurope blog
Carnegie Europe@carnegieeurope.bsky.social · last yr.The agreement allowing the UAE to invest in Montenegro's coastline has sparked local protests. The EU should use this opportunity to rethink its enlargement strategy & step in with alternative investments promoting EU values, says @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social. carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Honored to be interviewed by #Finland’s oldest news agency #STT (est. 1887) on the ongoing #protests in #Serbia. Citizens, especially students, demand truth & accountability as state narratives try to discredit them. #WesternBalkans #Serbia www.suomenmaa.fi/uutiset/serb...
Serbian protestiliike ei osoita hyytymisen merkkejä presidentti väittää ulkovaltojen juoneksi - Suomenmaa.fi
Huhtikuun alussa 1 400 kilometrin pyöräretkelle lähtenee serbialaiset opiskelijat saapuivat tällä viikolla Ranskan Strasbourgiin....
suomenmaa.fi
On Apr 8 I spoke at the #FEPS conference on #EUenlargement, in the session “Progressive Enlargement Under Pressure.” We looked at how #nationalism, #far-right movements & #external actors are reshaping the future of EU enlargement. Here are my 3 key points 🧵:
The future of #Enlargement is being affected by the shift to the (far) right. “A common new chapter for #EUEnlargement” gathered experts & policymakers to discuss: 👉 candidate countries' socio-economic development 👉 young people 👉 role of nationalist & far-right forces ➡️ bit.ly/NewChapterEU...
Më ndiqni në #EuronewsAlbania për analizën mbi rezultatet e zgjedhjeve në #Gjermani dhe ndikimin e tyre në #Europë dhe botë. Çfarë do të thotë kjo për të ardhmen e BE-së dhe ekuilibrat globalë? Link: youtu.be/tUxCBAu-svM?...
On May 28, I’ll be in Tuz, #Montenegro, with the Prague Opera's solo-cellist, Bledar Zajmi! 🎶✨ Excited to perform for the first time in my mom's hometown, honoring my #Malësia roots. A program blending classical masterpieces with #Albanian & Montenegrin music. Can’t wait! 🇦🇱🇲🇪
